Kale Companion Planting
Brassica oleracea var. sabellica
Mustard (Brassicaceae) -- cool season
Good Companions for Kale
Alyssum floral resources support hover flies and parasitoid wasps that control cabbage aphid and green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) on kale. Living mulch also suppresses weeds.
Particularly effective for fall kale when aphid pressure peaks. Sow alyssum seed when transplanting kale.
- Flower power: promoting pest natural enemies of key brassica pests with sweet alyssum -- HortScience (2013)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) flowers attract ladybugs (Coccinellidae), hover flies, lacewings (Chrysoperla spp.), and parasitoid wasps (Cotesia, Diadegma spp.) that control kale aphids and caterpillars.
Plant yarrow as a perennial border near brassica growing areas. Yarrow is drought-tolerant once established.
- Biodiversity and pest management in agroecosystems -- Crop Protection (2003)
- Insectary plantings: practical applications for biological control -- California Agriculture (UC ANR) (2006)
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